Center Theatre Group is expanding its Art Goes On project with L.A. Theatre Speaks, a biweekly series of live-streamed public discussions bringing together members of the local theatre community to discuss the issues and opportunities they are facing in this time of crisis. The series launched on Thursday, April 23, 2020 with “L.A. Theatre in the Time of a Pandemic and Beyond” featuring a cross-section of LA’s large and intimate theatre artistic directors.

Center Theatre Group Managing Director/CEO Meghan Pressman will moderate the discussion. Participants include: Snehal Desai (East West Players), Debbie Devine (24th STreet Theatre), Danny Feldman (Pasadena Playhouse), Jessica Kubzansky (Boston Court Pasadena), Michael Ritchie (Center Theatre Group), Matt Shakman (Geffen Playhouse), Michael A. Shepperd (Celebration Theatre) and Jose Luis Valenzuela (Latino Theater Company).

There are currently seven discussions planned between now and July with key members of the local theatre community including actors, designers, playwrights and administrators meant to help theatre creators come together to share ideas, strategize and support each other in these unprecedented times. The subjects, schedules, panelists will be announced later.

“Center Theatre Group will facilitate these conversations but it’s a conversation about Los Angeles theatre as a whole — about all local organizations and what we’re all going through,” said Michael Ritchie. “We want to reach out to our collective L.A. theatre audience and stakeholders and let them know what we are all planning and grappling with while allowing space for everyone to ask questions and engage. It’s vital that, as theatres begin to consider how and when we re-open our stages, the entire community is part of the conversation. The world may be changing, but our passion and love for the theatre has not. We are all in this together.”

For more information and to register for an upcoming discussion, please visit http://www.CTGLA.org/LATheatreSpeaks; https://www.centertheatregroup.org/art-goes-on/